Oil-well flowing and pumping apparatus



Dec. 10, 1929. J. w. TAYLOR I 1,738,974

OIL WELL FLOWING AND PUMPING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 1925 & ..r J

7 a E V 6 &/ MAIN --Tf /5\ g'mmewfoz J WTayZar lid l atent ed Dec. 10, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMESIW'. TAYLOR, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO ECQNOMY PUMP AND OIL- TOOL COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA OIL-WELL FLOWING AND PUMPING APPARATUS Application filed November This invention relates to improvements in oil well flowing and pumping apparatus and more especially to apparatus of the kind employing a gaseous motive fluid acting under pressure for forcing the oil from a well.

Another object of the invention rests in the provision of an apparatus for elevating liquids from an oil well which includes a flow line having providedtherein, at vertically spaced intervals, a plurality of nozzles, the said nozzles being internally provided with automatically operating check valves, responsive to balanced and unbal anced liquid and gas pressures in the-flow line of the well and in the casing surrounding the flow line, the construction and operation of the nozzle being such that the flow line will be cleared of the liquid by progressive stages, so that the hydrostatic head, represented by the column of liquid in the flow line, will be elevated and removed easily and rapidly by means of gas pressure introduced into the flow line by way of said valves and nozzles. v

A further object of the invention rests in elevating a column of liquid by expanding gas pressure and in the provision of improved means for admitting gas pressure into a column of liquid to effect its elevation.

In accordance with the present invention each of the aforesaid nozzles constructed to include a barrel having the opposite ends thereof provided with restricted ports establishing communication between the flow line of a well and the interior of the casing surrounding the flow line, there being an automatically operating check valve mounted for longitudinal movement in the barrel in response to pressure differentials in the casing and flow line so as to provide for the opening and closing of said ports automatically in accordance with the pressures and positions of the column of liquid in the flow line, the operation of the check valve being such that when the weight of the liquid in the flow line exceeds the gas pressure on the valve, obtained from the casing, the valve will occupy a closed position and conversely, when the gas pressure 7, 1925. Serial No. 67,660.

in the casing exceeds the resistance exercised on the valve by the column of liquid in the flow line the valve will occupy a closed position and therefore, an arrangement is provided in the nozzle by which gas flow through said nozzle into the casing will take place only when there exists a substantial uniformity of pressures between the fluids in the casing and the flow line. In this respect the invention conforms with the principles of construction and operation as set forth in my copending application Serial Number 15,755, filed March 16, 1925 and v in application Serial Number 15,758, filed March 16, 1925.

In its major aspect the present invention provides an improvement upon the nozzle shown in the above identified applications by providing the barrels of each of the nozzles at their upper ends with ports which open downwardlyinto thefiow line, the arrangement of the ports being such that it will be impossible for scale, rust particles and other foreign substances from entering the barrels of the nozzles and interfering with the operation of the movable check valves positioned therein. Practice has dis closed that if this protection is not provided small rust or scale particles, entering the barrel, interfere with the proper closure of the check valves and therefore maintain an unwarranted communication between the casing and the flow line which results in the improper Working of the apparatus. This condition is avoided and the required operation-of the apparatus maintained by the provision of means hereinafter specifically described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through the casing of an oil well disclosing the apparatus employed in connection with the present invention,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figurel,

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken throughthe check valve employed in the nozzles,

Figure 4: 1s a section on the line fr-4 of Figure 2,, p v

Figure 5 is a section on the line 55 of Figure 3,

Figure 6 is a vertical section of a slightly modified form of valve.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawing, the numeral 1 represents a welded casing which, as usual, may be formed from aligned pipe sections of suitable diameter and length, and arranged to extend from the ground surface of the well to the oil producing subterranean strata. Within this casing there is disposed the usual axially positioned flow line or tubing, which is designated in its entirety by the numeral 2. This tubing is also formed in pipe sections of suitable pipe lengths, united at intervals, and possesses a diameter materially less than the casing 1.

The tubing is suspended from the casing head 4 of the well, and the casing head is formedso as to be gas tight in order to prevent the escape of gas under pressure from the space 3. Gas or air, obtained from any suitable source, usually above ground, is introduced into the space 3 by a pipe 5 leading into the casing head 4. and the gas pressure thus obtained is applied directly to the upper surface of the liquid 6 in the casing, so as to force this liquid downwardly and thence upwardly in the flow line which is open at its lower end. The lower end of the casing may be provided with the usual perforate screen 7, which rests upon the bottom of the well, as indicated in Figure 1.

The flow line is provided at intervals with coupling sections 8 in which are positioned a plurality of nozzles 9, arranged at vertically spaced intervals throughout the length of the tubing, and it is to the construction of these nozzles particularly thatthe 'present invention is addressed. Each of, the nozzles includes a barrel 10 which terminates at its lower end in a laterally directed securing portion-- 11, which is securely fitted within an opening 12 provided in the coupling section 8. Passing through the portion 11 is an angularly arranged restricted passage 13, that establishes communication between the space 3 of the casing and the vertically disposed enlarged working chamber 14-01? the nozzle. The upper end of the chamber 14 is in this instance threaded for the reception of the threaded lower end of a protecting cap 15, which is so positioned as to close, as it were, the open upper end of the chamber 14. The cap 15 of each nozzle is formed with an axial bore 16 which communicates at its upper end with the inner extremities of a plurality of downwardly and outwardly extending ports 17, which open to the sides of the cap 15 and not to the upper portion thereof.

Slidably mounted within the chamber 14: of each nozzle employed by the apparatus is a check valve 18. This valve in the form of the invention disclosed in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive consists of a cylindrical body portion 19 of approximately the diameter of the passage 13 and the bore 16, the extremities of the body portion 19 being tapered as at 20 so as to guide and hold the valve, when occupying closed positions, in close fitting relation with the passages 13and 16. Provided upon the body portion 19 of each valve is a pair of vertically spaced annular flanges 21, which are vertically apertured as at 22 so that when the valve occu ies an open position, a shown in full lines 1n Figure 2, fluid passage therethrough may be easily effected. Also, the body portion of each valve has the lower part thereof formed with an axial bore 23 from the upper end of which radiate restricted ports 24, the purpose of which will be presently set forth, these ports being situated between the flanges 21.

In operation, in the flowing of the well gas pressure is introduced into the casing so as to exercise its pressure on the body of liquid indicated at 6. When this gas pressure is first introduced it will be observed that the nozzles above the level of the liquid indicated at 6 will be closed, since the gas enters the passage 13 in each of said nozzles so as to cause the check valves therein to rise to their elevated positions. This prevents the gas from escaping unduly and without effort through the flow line. However, as the gas pressure in the space 3 builds up the level of the liquid 6 recedes, causing a proportionate elevation of the liquid level in the flow line and when the liquid in the flow line has risen to a sufficient height so that the hydro-static pressure thereof, exercised on the check valve in the upper of said nozzles is equal to the gas pressuresin the casing, the said valve will unseat itself and assume an open position in its barrel permitting of the passage of gas from the easing into the flow line. The expelling gas thus enters the flow line in the form of small bubbles which move upwardly and as-they near the top of the flow line the bubbles expand rapidly, due to the decreased liquid pressure and by moving in quick succession with great rapidity the liquid in the top of the flow line is carried off. After the liquid level in the flow line has been moved to a point wherein the pressure thereof is no longer sufiicient to counterbalance the gas pressure, the check valve moves again to its closed position so as to prevent the flowing of gas throughthe nozzle. This operation is again repeated by the next lower nozzle and it is continued successively throughout the length of the apparatus until the weight reaches a state wherein it maintains naturally a constant liquid level in the casing. This system of operation has been described and claimed in detail in my application Serial Number 15,755 and therefore it need not be repeated to any great extent herein.

It should be observed, that in the present mason instance that the gas enters the flow line by way of the downwardly and angularly directed ports 17 provided in what may be termed a closed up er and of the nozzle. In this instance the c osure is effected by means of the removable cap 15 which is so positioned in relation to the chamber 1 that scale, rust and the like cannot enter the.chamber 14 and obstruct the operation of the check valve therein. To prevent the passage 13 from cloggin the bore 23 and the ports 24 are provide in said check valve. These passages admit of the flow of a relatively small amount of liquid from the flow line through the passage 13 so as to flush this passage to remove any clogging material whic may have a tendency to collect therein. Y While the preferred form of the invention has set forth a check valve as being of the plunger type, a ball valve, such/as shown at 25, may be used in lieu thereof. When a ball valve is used the lower seat 26 is formed with a port which permits of the fiowing of a small amount of liquid into the passage 13 even though the valve occupies said seat.

By reason of the angular bores 17 the gas or air issuing from a nozzle is forced to seek a downward course while flowin into the tubing and this also prevents forei matter from entering the chamber when t e tubing is being lowered into the well. This construction has been found necessary for the reason that in lowering the tubing into the well there is a continual dropping of scale and rust particles from the piping used especially where such piping has been in previous use for any considerable time and, if not ex cluded, these particles would check and make iii-operative any valve so situated as to catchii these obstructing particles. Practice has disclosed that a valve will wedge in the chamber and fail to close unless all accumulations of this kind are kept out of the chamber.

What is claimed is:

1. In oil well pumping apparatus, a nozzle arranged vertically in a flow line, said nozzle comprising a barrel having a longitudinally extending valve chamber provided therein,

said barrel having the ends thereof provided hil with restricted passages, one of said passages establishing communication between said chamber and said flow line and terminated in an outwardl and downwardly extending portion, and a c eck valve arranged for longitudinal movement withinsaid chamber to open and close said passages.

21 In oil well pumping apparatus, a flow line, a nozzle arranged within said flowline and positioned vertically therein, the said nozzle comprising a barrel provided with a longitudinal working chamber, a cap member closing theupper end of said chamber,saidcap member being provided with a longitudinal bore terminatingin ports extending downwardly and angularlywith respect to said bore into said flow line, the lower end of said barrel being provided with a bore leading from said chamber to the exterior of said flow line, and a valve slidably mounted in said chamber and cooperative with said bores to control fluid circulation through the nozzle.

3. In umping apparatus of the nature described a flow line, a vertically disposed nozzle in said flow line, said nozzle comprising a longitudinally extending chamber terminating at the ends thereof in spaced inlet and outlet passages of restricted diameter, said outlet passages opening to the sides of the nozzle the mouths being directed downwardly and shielded on the upper sides, and a valve mounted for longitudinal movement within said chamber and co-acting with said passages to restrict fluid flow through the nozzle when said valve is subjected to fluid pressure difierentials.

4. In pumping apparatus of the nature described, a nozzle comprising a barrel including an elongated working chamber, the opposite ends of said chamber terminating in restricted inlet and outlet assages, said outlet passage terminating at t e side of said nozzle the niouths thereof being directed downwardly and shielded on the upper sides, a valve mounted for sliding movement in said chamber to open and close said passages, and means provided in connection with said valve for permitting of the flushing of said inlet passage. 7

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JAMES W. TAYLOR. I 

